PNA Warns Of Impact Of Early Retirement

In a survey of its branches across the country the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) has found that up to 360 frontline nurses are to retire from the psychiatric/mental health services under the Government's early retirement scheme.

This amounts to about 9% of whole time posts in the services and in some areas the figure for those retiring rises to 10%.and more of whole time posts. These figures are in addition to an estimated 1,200 staff who have left posts in the last two years.

Commenting on the PNA survey, General Secretary, Des Kavanagh said the Government, patients and their families had to recognise that current provision of mental health services are not sustainable with this level of staff losses.

"The impact of the these staff losses will be felt across all services but particularly in community services which are being heralded by the Government as the future for our mental health services. Against this background, any talk of developing enhanced preventative and primary care services is nonsense when we cannot maintain core services."

He said urgent action was needed to release the Government’s promised €35 million for mental health services to recruit new staff in order that existing services can be maintained.

Mr Kavanagh said the loss of staff under the February retirement scheme is just the latest blow to services.

(CD/GK)